In the News

Reporters across the nation use Institute data to fuel their investigative reporting on money in politics. Listed here from most recent.

Associated Press, West Virginia

Ex-VFW Chief Pleads Guilty in Federal Vote Fraud Probe2004-10-29

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Logan County man told a federal judge Friday that he skimmed $35,000 from raffle proceeds while president of a Veterans of Foreign Wars post, using some of the money to contribute to political candidates.

Springfield News-Leader

Cognressional Ties a Powerful Fund-Raising Tool2004-10-29

WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress have a lot to offer family members who decide to run for office. That includes name recognition and something more tangible -- money from congressional colleagues and corporate lobbyists.

Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Phillips, Warden Race Most Expensive in County2004-10-24

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- The race between Democrat Mike Phillips and Republican Bill Warden for House District 63 could turn out to be the most expensive ever in Gallatin County.

The Olympian

Candidates' Donors Bespeak Differences in Stances2004-10-24

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- On their way to a record-shattering campaign for governor, Republican Dino Rossi and Democrat Christine Gregoire have combined to raise more than $10 million for their Nov. 2 election-day showdown. But it is the way that each has raised the money that is startlingly different.

The Daily Sentinel

Bjorklund No. 1 at Raising Money2004-10-17

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- The unprecedented fund-raising efforts by state House hopeful Shari Bjorklund, whose campaign has raised more money than any of the 136 state House candidates in Colorado this year, have allowed her campaign to put a new face on Mesa County politics.

While groups such as MoveOn.org and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have grabbed national attention with their growing advertising clout in presidential politics, other so-called 527 committees are making their dollars felt in state races across the U.S.

Anniston Star

Supreme Court Candidates in State Breaking the Bank2004-09-20

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Supreme Court judges are elected to make fair and impartial rulings and hear every case with an open mind. But record-breaking amounts of money that are pouring into Alabama's race this year are casting doubt on that basic duty, judicial observers say.

Great Falls Tribune

Schweitzer, Brown War Chests Shed Light on Their Differences2004-09-19

HELENA, Mont. -- Nearly 20,000 times in the last 20 months, someone, somewhere has written a check to the campaign of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian Schweitzer, to bring his fundraising total to $1 million-plus so far. But Republican Bob Brown is proving to be an able fund-raiser as well.

San Jose Mercury News

Donors Have a Stake in Bills2004-09-16

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- After pledging to reject money from special-interest groups, Arnold Schwarzenegger has accepted five- and six-figure donations from a wide array of businesses with a stake in some of the hundreds of bills the Republican governor must sign or veto by month's end.